This is a Subaru EJ25 engine for sale in fairly used condition. It is a complete 2.5 litre flat-four boxer, taken out of a running car, checked over, tested and ready to ship to you wherever you are. The EJ25 went into the Impreza, Legacy, Outback, Forester and Baja for close to twenty years, so there are plenty of these cars still on the road and plenty of owners looking for a good replacement.
Before you pay, we match the engine to your VIN and send photos of the actual engine you are buying. No stock pictures, no guessing.

What You Get With This Subaru EJ25 Engine for Sale
A complete engine usually comes with:
- Block with crankshaft, pistons and connecting rods
- Both cylinder heads with camshafts
- Timing belt, idlers and tensioner
- Intake manifold, fuel rail and injectors
- Throttle body where fitted
- Oil pan, oil pump and front covers
- Flywheel or flexplate, depending on the donor car
- Photos, test notes and secure packing
Alternators, AC compressors, starters and wiring change from car to car. Your quote lists exactly what comes with the Subaru EJ25 engine for sale you are buying. If you only need the core, ask for a long block.
Subaru EJ25 Engine Specifications
| Type | Horizontally opposed flat-four (boxer), petrol |
| Displacement | 2,457 cc (2.5 litre) |
| Bore x stroke | 99.5 mm x 79 mm |
| Block and heads | Aluminium |
| Valves | 16 (4 per cylinder) |
| Valvetrain | DOHC on the EJ25D, SOHC on the EJ251, EJ252 and EJ253 |
| Power (non-turbo) | About 155 to 175 hp |
| Torque (non-turbo) | About 220 to 235 Nm |
| Turbo versions | EJ255 about 210 to 265 hp, EJ257 (STI) about 300 hp |
| Firing order | 1-3-2-4 |
| Timing | Belt |
| Oil capacity | About 4.2 to 4.5 litres |
| Condition | Fairly used, tested |
Want the full story first? Read our Subaru EJ25 buying guide.
For the history of the engine family, see the Subaru EJ engine article. To compare it with other Subaru options, read our guide to used Subaru engines.
Vehicles This Subaru EJ25 Engine for Sale Fits
- Subaru Impreza 2.5RS and 2.5i (about 1998 to 2011)
- Subaru Legacy 2.5 (about 1996 to 2012)
- Subaru Outback 2.5 (about 1996 to 2012)
- Subaru Forester 2.5 (about 1998 to 2010)
- Subaru Baja (2003 to 2006)
- Saab 9-2X
- Turbo models such as the WRX, WRX STI, Forester XT, Legacy GT and Outback XT (EJ255 and EJ257, quoted separately)
Subaru changed sensors, intake manifolds and engine computers several times over the years, so a 1999 engine and a 2009 engine are not always plug and play. Send your VIN and we will confirm which Subaru EJ25 engine for sale matches your car. If your Subaru has the newer FB25 engine, tell us and we will quote that instead.
The Different EJ25 Versions
EJ25D. The early DOHC engine from the late 1990s Legacy, Outback and Forester. Good power, but known for head gasket trouble.
EJ251 and EJ252. SOHC engines from around 1999 to 2005. Lighter and simpler, and the version a lot of Impreza, Forester and Outback owners need.
EJ253. The later SOHC engine with i-AVLS variable valve lift, used from about 2006 to 2012. This is the Subaru EJ25 engine for sale we ship most often, and the price on this page is for this version.
EJ255 and EJ257. The turbo engines from the WRX, STI, Forester XT and Legacy GT. They take different parts and get their own quote.
Before you order any Subaru EJ25 engine for sale, check the engine code stamped on your old block. We print the exact code on your quote.
What Fairly Used Means
Fairly used means the engine came out of a car that was driving, not from a flood or a fire. It has normal wear for its age and mileage. It has not been rebuilt and it is priced as a used engine. If we find small things like an oily cam seal or a cracked plastic cover, we write them in your notes, so the Subaru EJ25 engine for sale you receive is the one we described.
How We Check Each Engine
- Record the engine code, mileage and donor car where we know it
- Compression test on all four cylinders
- Look at the oil and coolant for mixing or sludge
- Check along the head gasket line for old coolant or oil weeping
- Turn the engine over by hand and listen for knocks
- Check the timing belt and idlers
- Photograph the engine from every side
- Drain, cap and pack for shipping
You can read more about how we do this in our page on tested used engines.
Known EJ25 Problems to Plan For
- Head gaskets. The weak spot on the EJ25D and EJ251, which tend to leak coolant or oil on the outside. Plenty of owners fit new gaskets during the swap just for peace of mind.
- Oil leaks. Valve cover gaskets, cam seals and the oil separator plate can weep with age.
- Timing belt. Replace it on schedule, roughly every 105,000 miles or 7 years.
- Piston slap. Some engines make a light knock when cold. It usually goes quiet once warm.
- Ringland and bearing damage. Mostly on turbo engines that were driven hard or ran low on oil.
None of this makes the EJ25 a bad engine. It is just what anyone buying a Subaru EJ25 engine for sale should know before fitting it.
Price and What Changes It
The price shown is for a complete, fairly used non-turbo EJ253. The final price can move with:
- Engine code: EJ25D, EJ251, EJ252, EJ253, EJ255 or EJ257
- Mileage
- Complete engine or long block
- Extra parts included
- Shipping method and destination
Your quote breaks out the engine, parts and freight. Our replacement engine cost guide helps you budget for labour too.
Complete Engine or Long Block?
A complete engine comes with the intake, injectors and most bolt-on parts and is the quickest to fit. A long block is the core only: block, crank, pistons, heads and cams. A long block Subaru EJ25 engine for sale costs less and makes sense if your own intake and sensors are in good shape.
Used, Rebuilt or Remanufactured?
This listing is a fairly used engine, which is the fastest and cheapest way back on the road. Rebuilt and remanufactured engines cost more. Our guide to remanufactured vs rebuilt engines explains the difference. A tested, sensible-mileage Subaru EJ25 engine for sale is often a better deal than a cheap rebuild nobody can vouch for.
Notes for Outback and Forester Owners
A lot of these cars spend their lives on gravel roads, in snow or pulling a trailer. Before the new engine goes in, look hard at the radiator, hoses, thermostat and cooling fans. Overheating is what kills most EJ25 head gaskets, and a tired radiator will do it again to the next engine. Sort the cooling system first, then fit the Subaru EJ25 engine for sale.
Notes for Engine Swaps
The EJ25 is a popular swap into Volkswagen vans, kit cars and older Subarus because it is light, short and has good torque. If you are buying a Subaru EJ25 engine for sale for a swap, tell us what it is going into. When we have them, we can include the harness and engine computer from the donor car, which saves you a lot of headaches.
Fitting Advice
- Find out why the old engine failed and fix that first.
- Replace the radiator, hoses and thermostat if it overheated.
- Fit a new timing belt kit and water pump unless the belt was done recently.
- Fit new cam seals, valve cover gaskets and a rear main seal while the engine is out.
- Use Subaru coolant or a proper equivalent and bleed the system well.
- Use the right oil grade and do an early oil change after the first few hundred miles.
Looking After It
Check the oil level every couple of fill-ups, because boxer engines can use a little oil. Keep the cooling system healthy, change the timing belt on time and fix small leaks early. With that basic care, a Subaru EJ25 engine for sale from us can give you many more years of driving.
For Workshops and Importers
We can quote several engines at once and ship them together to save on freight. Trade buyers often pair a Subaru EJ25 engine for sale with Honda and Toyota units for the same market. Each engine is labelled with its code and quote number, with photos and test notes you can pass on to your customers.
Signs You Need a Replacement Engine
- A deep knock from the bottom end after running low on oil
- Coolant in the oil, or oil in the coolant, after overheating
- Low compression on one or more cylinders
- A snapped timing belt with bent valves
- A cracked block or scored cylinder walls
Send us the symptoms or a workshop report and we will tell you straight whether a Subaru EJ25 engine for sale is the right fix or whether a repair makes more sense.
Warranty
Every Subaru EJ25 engine for sale ships with a written warranty, with the terms printed on your quote. See our used engine warranty page and our refund and returns policy.
Worldwide Shipping
We ship to North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the Pacific, by sea or air. Each Subaru EJ25 engine for sale is drained, capped, strapped down and packed on a pallet or in a crate, then shipped with tracking and export papers. Read our shipping policy.
How to Order
- Send your VIN and engine code through the contact page, or call +1 (209) 733-0882.
- We confirm the match and send photos.
- You get a written quote with engine, parts and shipping.
- Pay by bank transfer. It is the only payment method we accept. See our billing terms.
- We ship with tracking and send the documents.
New to buying engines online? Read how to buy a used engine online.
When It Arrives
- Photograph the crate before you open it.
- Check the code on your Subaru EJ25 engine for sale matches your quote.
- Make sure all the listed parts are there.
- Turn the engine over by hand.
- Contact us within the time on your quote if anything is wrong.
More Engines
Browse our full range of used engines. Other Japanese engines we sell include the Honda J35A V6, the Mitsubishi 4G64, the Honda K20A and the Toyota 2JZ. You can also learn more about us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a new engine?
No. It is a fairly used, tested engine from a running car.
Which version is this Subaru EJ25 engine for sale?
The listed price is for a non-turbo EJ253. We also quote the EJ25D, EJ251, EJ252 and the turbo engines.
Will it fit my turbo WRX?
No. Turbo cars need an EJ255 or EJ257. Ask us for a separate quote.
Does it come with a warranty?
Yes, a written warranty with the terms on your quote.
Can I see photos first?
Yes, photos of the real engine before you pay.
How do I pay?
Bank transfer only.
Do you ship to my country?
Yes, worldwide by sea or air with tracking.
Get Your Quote
If your Subaru is parked up with a blown head gasket or a knocking bottom end, this is the simple fix. Send your VIN and we will confirm the match, send photos and give you a clear price on a tested Subaru EJ25 engine for sale, delivered to your door.




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